Polar Bear Town

Every autumn, 1,000 polar bears share the small town of Churchill, Manitoba, with humans until the Arctic ice returns to Hudson Bay. It's a relatively peaceful coexistence, but this year will prove more challenging than ever. A longer summer has led to an earlier, and larger, influx of bears, and the fatal attack of a beloved dog has the community on edge. Follow these majestic beasts, the local guides who make their living from them, and the men and women who work round-the-clock to protect them through one especially tough season.

Bios

Dr. Don Moore

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Dr. Don Moore is a zoo-based endangered species conservation specialist and animal behaviorist, who has been leading and training the next generation of animal care professionals and conservation biologists, studying animal behavior in zoos and nature, and creating conservation management plans for wild animals in zoos and in nature, for over 30 years. He has published over four dozen papers on animal husbandry and behavior; serves as a peer-reviewer for scientific journals; and has received national and local awards for excellence in the interpretation of natural history and behavior of wildlife.

Kelsey Eliasson

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It's been nearly two decades since independent polar bear guide Kelsey Eliasson started leading adventure-seekers visiting Churchill to witness the world's largest land predators. After five years driving the world famous tundra buggies, Kelsey started his own guiding business, Polar Bear Alley. He now leads professional photographers and film crews; reading and interpreting bear behaviour during eye-level encounters, sometimes within 100' of these powerful creatures. Regardless of the risk, Eliasson would never trade this opportunity to be close to the majestic creatures he so admires.

Brian Ladoon

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Brian Ladoon is the owner and operator of the Mile 5 Dog Sanctuary in Churchill, Manitoba. His life's work revolves around restoring the disappearing Canadian Eskimo dog breed, which the Inuit once depended on. In conjunction with his dog sanctuary, he runs a polar bear roadside attraction that allows tourists to safely view bears that roam freely around Mile 5. Surprisingly, Ladoon's dogs and the polar bears have a mutual respect for each other and rarely quarrel. The fact that Ladoon keeps the sanctuary stocked with fresh meat doesn't hurt either.

Dennis Compayre

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A Churchill native with almost four decades experience examining polar bears, Denis Compayre recognizes the importance of protecting his clients and the polar bears alike. Known as "The Polar Bear Whisperer," Compayre spent 25,000 hours studying polar bear behavior, and as a result, is sought out by visitors for the remarkable connection he has with species. He was one of the first drivers hired to give polar bear buggy tours in Churchill in the '80s when the town was becoming a more popular tourist destination.

Town Map

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Migration Route

As Hudson Bay's icy waters begin to thaw during the summer, polar bears seek refuge on nearby shores. The bears spend these warmer months fasting and waiting for the Hudson Bay to freeze back over in winter so they can hunt for seals and mate.

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Tundra Climate

With temperatures rising across the globe, polar bear habitats, which consist of thick ice, are on the decline. In the Hudson Bay, polar bears have been forced to endure longer summers ashore in Churchill, fasting as they wait for the ice to freeze back over in winter.

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Encounter #1

On a September night in 2013, Garett Kolsun was chased by a polar bear and trapped on the porch of a bakery. As the bear attempted to hit him with its paw, Kolsun strategically flashed his cellphone light, successfully startled it, and made his escape.

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Encounter #2

Churchill residents Bill Ayotte and Erin Greene were attacked on a November morning in 2013. While Greene and a friend were walking along the shore of Hudson Bay, a polar bear chased them down and began mauling her. Ayotte heard the commotion from his home and ran out to scare the bear off with a shovel. Instead of fleeing, the bear turned his attention to Ayotte and pinned him to the ground. Against all odds, both victims survived when other locals successfully frightened the bear away.

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"Polar Bear Jail"

In an effort to keep polar bears and humans safe from one another, the Polar Bear Holding Facility, known as "Polar Bear Jail," was created in 1979. When polar bears get too close to the town of Churchill and warning shots fail to work, they are tranquilized and airlifted to the facility. During their stay, they're only fed water so that the bears won't associate finding food with the town or people. After a month in their holding cells, they are tranquilized again and transported back into the tundra.